Biology 141
General Biology I
Saint Martin’s University
Fall 2006
Professors
Margaret Olney, Ph.D.
Office: Old Main 407
Office phone: 438-4327
molney@stmartin.edu
Office Hours
Mondays 11am-12:30pm
Wednesdays 11am-1pm
Thursdays 9:30-11am
or by appointment
Mary Jo Hartman, Ph.D.
Office: Old Main 403
Office phone: 438-4452
mhartman@stmartin.edu
Mondays 11am-12noon and 2-3pm
Wednesdays 2-3pm
Thursdays 10-11am, 1:30-2:30pm
or by appointment
Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Section A1: 8-9:20am in Old Main 401. Section B1: 12:101:30pm in Old Main 401. You must attend the section for which you are registered.
Labs: Wednesdays 12-1:50, 2-3:50, or 4-5:50pm. You must attend the section for which you are
registered. Labs are held in Old Main 402 and begin tomorrow, 8/30/06.
Required Textbook: Biology: Concepts and Connections. Fifth Edition. 2006. Campbell, Reece,
Taylor, and Simon. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings Publishers. ISBN: 0321492684. <<www.awbc.com>> The package available in the SMU includes access to an online Tutor Center and
CourseCompass. The Tutor Center and CourseCompass do not add to the cost of the textbook, but are
only available from the SMU bookstore. We will be using CourseCompass this semester.
Course Description: This survey course is for prospective biology and science majors at Saint
Martin’s University. Topics include concepts of evolution, the evolution of biological diversity, plant
form and function, ecology, and ecosystems biology. Bio141 and 142 are prerequisites for all upper
division biology courses at Saint Martin’s.
Student Outcomes: Specific objectives for students in this course include:
1. Understanding the basic integrating principles of biology, as related to the topics listed in the
course description above;
2. Understanding and applying the scientific method to solving problems in biological systems;
3. Understanding biological issues and their relationship to societal issues;
4. Learning to formulate questions in a scientific framework;
5. Learning to evaluate and interpret scientific evidence; and
6. Developing critical thinking and effective communication skills.
Class Participation: Studies have shown that learning occurs best in an interactive and active
environment, so you should not plan on just sitting back and silently taking notes in this course. This
does not mean that you shouldn’t take notes. Instead, you should do MORE than just take notes during
class. Plan to actively and enthusiastically participate in class lectures, discussions, projects, and
activities. You will be rewarded both in your grade and in your level of learning. In general, the more
engaged you are, the more (and more deeply) you will learn. Class time will be devoted to lectures,
activities, discussions, and projects.
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Evaluation of objective achievement:
Examinations: Students will take two midterm examinations and one cumulative final
examination to demonstrate their understanding of material from lectures, discussions, activities, and
assigned readings. Exams will include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Some
questions will be recall questions; others will require the synthesis and/or application of several
concepts.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given throughout the semester. The dates of the quizzes will be
announced in advance. Your quiz with the lowest score will be dropped. The quizzes may include
multiple choice, and short answer and essay questions, and the format of the quizzes may vary.
Assignments: Assignments will be given throughout the semester. Some will be completed in
class; others will be completed out of class. The format of the assignments will vary.
Participation: This part of your grade includes active and enthusiastic participation in class
lectures, activities, projects, and discussions; promptness; and attendance. If you come (on time) to
every class and ask or answer a couple of questions over the course of the semester, you can expect to
earn approximately 80% of the participation grade. In order to score higher, you will want to ask and
answer questions during every class period. The more actively engaged you are, the more you will
learn.
Grading for lecture:
Exam I
Exam II
Final Exam
Quizzes
70% of final grade.
20 %
Assignments
20 %
Participation
20 %
Total
20 %
15 %
5%
100 %
Grading for lab: 30% of final grade. Details will be in your lab syllabus. Note that you may fail
the entire course if you fail the lab. If you have two or more unexcused absences from lab, you will
fail the entire course.
Grading Scale
A
exceptionally high level of competence or knowledge
B
above average competence or knowledge
C
adequate competency related to course goals
D
marginal competency but passing
F
failure to achieve minimum competency
A
AB+
B
B-
93.0 - 100 %
90.0 - 92.99 %
87.0 - 89.99 %
83.0 - 86.99 %
80.0 - 82.99 %
C+
C
CD+
D
77.0 - 79.99
73.0 – 76.99 %
70.0 – 72.99 %
67.0 – 69.99 %
63.0 – 66.99 %
Student Attendance and Late Policy: It is your responsibility to attend classes, take exams, and hand
assignments in on time, so plan ahead accordingly. You are required to attend all lectures. If you must
miss a lecture because of extraordinary circumstances, please notify your instructor in advance and
make arrangements to get copies of lecture notes from one of your classmates.
Several quizzes will be given over the course of the semester (on announced days) and will be given at
the beginning of class. If you arrive after the quizzes are handed out, you will not be able to take the
quiz and you will receive a score of zero. There will be NO make-up quizzes (remember that your
lowest quiz score will be dropped).
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Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Assignments turned in up to 24 hours
late will penalized 50% of the point total. Assignments turned in 1-7 days late will be penalized 75%
of the point total. Assignments more than 7 days will not be accepted for credit.
Make-up exams will NOT be given unless: 1) you were very ill at the time of the exam AND you have
a legitimate written excuse from a nurse, counselor, or physician (for reasons of confidentiality, your
written excuse only needs to say that you were unable to attend because of illness) AND you notified
you instructor BEFORE the beginning time of the exam (via phone or email); 2) you had a family
emergency AND you notified the dean’s office or counselor AND you notified your instructor
BEFORE the beginning time of the exam; or 3) you were on a college-sponsored field trip which
required your absence AND you personally notified your instructor of your absence at least one week
before the exam. If you miss an exam for any other reason, you will receive a score of zero.
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy: All students are expected to uphold the integrity of this academic
institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, giving or receiving unauthorized
information regarding exams or assignments; copying or allowing copying of any assignment, lab
write-up, or test; or plagiarism from any written material (whether copyrighted or not). Depending on
the severity of the infringement, violators of this policy will receive a zero on the assignment involved
or a failing grade in the course, AND will have their name and evidence of cheating submitted to the
Vice President of Academic Affairs for further action. Further information about penalties for
academic dishonesty can be found in the St. Martin’s University Student Conduct Code (see your
Student Handbook).
Copying or paraphrasing another person’s lab or assignment is considered cheating by both people.
Plagiarism is taking the ideas, thoughts, content, or graphics from someone else and representing them
as your own. This includes cutting and pasting passages of another person’s work off the internet.
When you are using information from another source (whether copyrighted or not, including your
textbook, the internet, or another student’s paper), always document it within your paper! If you are
directly quoting a source, either use quotation marks (for short passages) or indent or single-space the
quote (for longer passages). In either case, you must also indicate the source. If you are unsure what
constitutes plagiarism, please consult your instructor. It is very important that you complete your own
original work.
Do NOT ignore the cheating policy in this (or any) course. It is a very SERIOUS matter. Your
instructors have encountered many different forms of cheating in the past and will not be shy about
turning in and failing violators. You really don’t want to fail this course or to be expelled from St.
Martin’s for cheating or plagiarism.
Special Needs: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please make an appointment to speak with your instructor as soon as
possible.
Support Services: If you are having difficulty with the content and concepts presented in this course,
please do not hesitate to contact your instructor. Additionally, get to know the tutor in biology and use
the Learning Center (Old Main 214) throughout the semester, (not just before an exam). Be sure to
bring specific questions or concepts to the tutor for help. The more specific you can be on what you’re
having problems with, the more likely the tutor can help you.
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Biology 141 Course Schedule, Fall Semester 2006 (subject to change)
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Dates
8/29
8/30
8/31
9/5
9/6
9/7
9/12
9/13
9/14
9/19
9/20
9/21
9/26
9/27
9/28
10/3
10/4
10/5
10/10
10/11
10/12
10/17
10/18
10/19
10/24
10/25
10/26
10/31
11/1
11/2
11/7
11/8
11/9
11/14
11/15
11/16
11/21
11/22
11/23
11/28
11/29
11/30
12/5
12/6
12/7
12/8
Lecture Topic
Reading in
Campbell et al.
Lab
How Populations Evolve
Chapter 13
1. Scientific Investigation
The Origin of Species
Chapter 14
11. Population Genetics I
Tracing Evolutionary History
Chapter 15
12. Population Genetics II
The Origin and Evolution of Microbial
Life: Prokaryotes
Chapter 16
13. Bacteriology
Protists
Chapter 16
14. Protists and Fungi
Fungi
Chapter 17
14.3. Design Independent
Investigation
Plants
Fall Break, no class
Exam I during class
Chapter 17
15. Non-vascular Plants
Chapters 13-17
Plant Form and Function
Plant Form and Function
Chapters 31-33
Chapters 31-33
The Evolution of Animal Diversity
Chapter 18
Human Evolution
Chapter 19
17. Animal Diversity I
Biosphere: An Intro to Earth’s Diverse
Environments
Chapter 34
18. Animal Diversity II
Behavioral Adaptations to the
Environment
Chapter 35
26. Ecology II Computer
Simulation
Population Dynamics
Chapter 36
16. Vascular Plants
20. Plant Growth Independent
Investigation
no lab
Thanksgiving holiday, no class
Communities and Ecosystems
Chapter 37
27. Animal Behavior
Communities and Ecosystems
lab exam
last day of classes
comprehensive final exam 8-10am section A (8-9:20 class)
12:15-2:15pm section B (12:10-1:30 class)
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